Ideas for Beer Lovers

Do you believe in the passion, diversity, creativity, community citizenship, and great craft beer from today’s small and independent U.S. breweries? If so, then check out all the ways you can celebrate American Craft Beer Week (ACBW), May 13-19, 2013:

• ‘Like’ the ACBW Facebook fan page to join more than 45,000+ in support of ACBW
• Visit the American Craft Beer Week Events page. If your local brewery is not listed then prompt them to do so!
• Celebrate at an ACBW event in your area. New events are being added all the time

Ideas for Breweries

• American Craft Beer Week National Toast – May 16 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. For the first time ever, ACBW will be commemorated by a simultaneous toast.
• Kick-off the week by having a new beer release party.
• If you are a restaurant, offer a different food special each night that pairs with an American craft beer.
• Offer special brewery tours during the week.
• Plan a festival to happen during the week to give your attendees even more to cheer about.
• Use American Craft Beer Week as a reason to release special vintages of some of your beers and you’ll be sure to get everyone toasting.
• Offer a special beer class during the week that gives fans extended time with your brewing staff.
• Since craft brewers are known for being amazing community advocates, pick a charity to raise money for during American Craft Beer Week and go for it! You could organize a 5K or 10K costume race or create a battle of the bands night! Get crazy with it people!
• Send out a press release to your local media outlets telling them why you think American Craft Beer Week is the perfect time for them to feature craft beer from small and independent producers in the area.

Ideas for Retailers

• Organize a craft beer pairing dinner.
• Suggest a craft beer pairing using the available POS materials. (Note: 2013 ACBW materials will be available in February 2013.)
• Host a staff favorite’s night – let your customers know which craft beers are your staff’s current favorites.
• Celebrate with a craft beer tap takeover night.
• Brewers Night – invite the local brewery to host a tasting!
• Host an only the proprietor’s favorites night.
• Weeklong beer bingo – encourage patrons to try everything on tap or in bottles for prizes.
• Brew demos – restaurant staff or customer created beer recipes brewed on a homebrew system onsite.
• Beer history dinner – tell the story of American craft beer.
• Beer vs. wine pairing dinner – pair each course with a beer and wine and allow the diners to chose the winner.

Off-Premise Recommendations

• Advertise and promote only craft beers that week
• Display only craft beer that week
• Set up a distinctive Craft Beer display area for the week – put it in an early – high traffic location
• Put up shelf POS to highlighting Craft Beer Week
• Use a Craft Beer Week border in your ad to highlight the week
• Sample different craft beer  during the week – by brewer
• Have a staff person or brewery personnel work with customers – Thursday pm, Friday pm and Saturday afternoon
• Put up beer style, ingredients and brewing POS during the week to encourage consumer awareness and trial
• Use store announcement to remind customers of craft beer specials
• Put stacks of different craft beers by the register
• Create an end cap with hops and malt and lead craft brands for purchase

On-Premise

• Craft beer tap takeover – all craft beer on draft for the week
• Craft beer specials for the week
• Flights special of different craft beers
• Vertical style tastings -  all lagers, all IPA, etc. during the week
• Wait-staff programs – incentives, education, etc
• Large poster announcing the week and table tents
• Food and craft beer specials all week
• Promotions with visiting brewers or brewery reps
• Promotions about beer, brewing, ingredients and tasting
• Around the country card – try all featured craft beers and get a prize, certificate, t-shirts

Ready to Submit Your Event?

• Enter your event into the ‘official’ American Craft Beer Week database to stand up and have your celebration included with hundreds of others!
• Be sure to choose the Event Type: American Craft Beer Week.
• Include all the details you can about how , when and where craft beer enthusiasts can participate.
• Photos are welcome or at least upload your business logo with your post.